What is the single cheapest type of car to insure?

Minivans and compact SUVs are consistently the cheapest to insure. Models like the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V combine strong safety ratings, affordable repair costs, and a careful driver base, which all push premiums down. An older compact sedan with a small engine can also be very cheap, provided it is not a common theft target.

Why do sports cars and luxury vehicles cost so much more to insure?

They combine several expensive factors. High horsepower correlates with harder crashes and more claims, luxury and imported parts make repairs far pricier, and higher vehicle value raises the payout after a total loss. Some models are also targeted by thieves. Together these push premiums well above those of a practical family SUV or minivan.

Does a used car's history really affect my insurance rate?

It can. A salvage or rebuilt title, flood damage, or a record of major accidents can raise your premium or limit which carriers will cover the car at all. Insurers view a damaged history as a higher risk. Checking the vehicle history and the safety ratings for that exact model year before you buy, for example with a free VIN check on CarWorthIt, helps you avoid a car that will cost more to insure.

How much can I realistically save by choosing a cheaper car to insure?

The gap between a low cost model and a high cost one can be several hundred to over a thousand dollars a year for the same driver. On top of that, shopping at least three quotes, raising your deductible, bundling policies, and claiming every discount you qualify for can trim the bill further. Choosing the right car and shopping smart together make the biggest difference.

Cheapest Cars to Insure in the US (2026)

Car insurance is one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning a vehicle in the US, and the car you drive plays a huge role in what you pay. Two people with identical driving records can see hundreds of dollars a year in difference simply because of the make and model parked in the driveway. If you are shopping for a used car in 2026 and want to keep your monthly bill low, insurance cost belongs on your checklist right next to price, mileage, and reliability.

Below we break down the cheapest cars to insure in the US, explain exactly what makes a vehicle cheap or expensive to cover, and share practical ways to trim your premium. All premium figures are rough national ballparks for full coverage, and your real rate will depend on your state, age, driving history, credit, and the exact trim.

What Makes a Car Cheap to Insure

Insurers do not price your policy on a hunch. They lean on claims data tied to the specific vehicle. A few factors carry most of the weight:

Safety ratings. Cars that score well with the IIHS and NHTSA tend to produce fewer and less severe injury claims, which lowers medical and liability payouts. Standard automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and strong crash structures all help.
Repair and parts cost. A vehicle built from common, affordable parts is cheaper to fix after a fender bender. Luxury badges, aluminum bodies, and imported components push repair bills up, and premiums follow.
Theft rates. Models that get stolen often, or that are easy to break into, cost more to insure on the comprehensive side. Full size pickups and certain older sedans have historically drawn thieves.
Engine size and power. Big engines and high horsepower correlate with speeding and harder crashes. A modest four cylinder almost always beats a turbocharged performance trim on price.
Trim and value. The more a car is worth, the more an insurer pays to replace it after a total loss. A base trim usually insures cheaper than a loaded version of the same model.
Who drives it. Family friendly vehicles like minivans and compact SUVs are often driven carefully and cover fewer miles per trip, so they earn lower rates.

Notice a theme. The cheapest cars to insure are rarely flashy. They are practical, safe, common, and inexpensive to repair.

The 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure in 2026

This list leans on the vehicle types that consistently land at the bottom of insurance cost rankings: compact and midsize SUVs, minivans, and sensible sedans. Think of the premium range as a starting point, not a quote.

Model	Type	Why It Is Cheap to Insure	Rough Annual Premium (Full Coverage)
Subaru Outback	Wagon SUV	Top safety scores, standard EyeSight driver aids, low theft appeal	$1,300 to $1,600
Subaru Forester	Compact SUV	Excellent crash ratings, modest engine, family driver profile	$1,300 to $1,600
Honda CR-V	Compact SUV	Cheap common parts, strong safety, high reliability	$1,350 to $1,650
Honda Odyssey	Minivan	Careful driver base, roomy safe design, low speed usage	$1,300 to $1,600
Mazda CX-5	Compact SUV	High IIHS awards, affordable repairs, moderate value	$1,350 to $1,650
Jeep Wrangler	Off road SUV	Simple body on frame parts, cheap panels, slow depreciation	$1,350 to $1,700
Ford Escape	Compact SUV	Widely available parts, low replacement value, solid safety tech	$1,350 to $1,650
Toyota Sienna	Minivan	Safe family vehicle, low theft rate, dependable build	$1,300 to $1,650
Chrysler Pacifica	Minivan	Family use, good crash structure, reasonable parts cost	$1,350 to $1,700
Honda Civic (older)	Compact sedan	Small engine, cheap to repair, huge used parts supply	$1,400 to $1,750

A pattern jumps out. Subaru and Honda dominate because they pair strong safety credentials with sensible engines and cheap, plentiful parts. Minivans keep showing up because insurers know the average driver behind the wheel is not street racing. And an older four cylinder sedan can be one of the cheapest things on the road to cover, as long as it is not a theft magnet.

What Makes a Car Expensive to Insure

The flip side is just as clear. Sports cars, high horsepower sedans, luxury SUVs, and electric vehicles with pricey battery packs all tend to sit at the top of the cost charts. A turbocharged coupe invites hard driving. A luxury badge means a $2,000 headlight instead of a $300 one. A fast depreciating EV can still carry a high replacement value. If low premiums are a priority, steer away from the performance trim even when the sticker price looks tempting.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium

Picking the right car is step one. These moves can shave more off the bill:

Shop at least three quotes. Rates for the exact same driver and car swing wildly between carriers. Loyalty rarely pays.
Raise your deductible. Moving from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible can cut your premium noticeably if you have a small emergency fund to cover the gap.
Bundle policies. Combining auto with renters or homeowners insurance usually unlocks a discount.
Ask about every discount. Safe driver, low mileage, good student, defensive driving course, and paperless billing discounts add up.
Mind your credit. In most states, a stronger credit profile means a lower rate, so it is worth tending to.
Drop full coverage on old cars. If your car is worth only a couple thousand dollars, paying for collision coverage may not make sense.
Choose the base trim. Fewer expensive features and lower value usually means a lower premium.

Check the Car Before You Buy

The insurance quote you get is only as good as the car underneath it. A model with a spotless reputation can still hide a salvage title, flood damage, or a history of accidents, and any of those can push your premium up or make coverage harder to get. Before you commit, it pays to confirm the safety ratings for that exact model year and pull the vehicle history.

Running a free VIN check on CarWorthIt lets you see a car's safety ratings and recorded history in one place, so you can weigh insurance cost with eyes open rather than finding out after you sign. It only takes a minute and can save you from an expensive surprise. A car with a clean record and strong crash scores is not just safer to drive, it is usually cheaper to insure too.

The Bottom Line

The cheapest cars to insure in the US for 2026 are practical, safe, and cheap to repair. Compact SUVs from Subaru, Honda, and Mazda, family minivans, and sensible older sedans consistently deliver the lowest premiums. Pair the right vehicle with a few smart habits like comparing quotes and stacking discounts, and you can keep one of the largest costs of car ownership firmly under control. Before you buy, a quick VIN check on CarWorthIt confirms the safety ratings and history that shape your rate, so there are no surprises when the policy quote lands.